Miller, Sewell Launch Bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ecuador Caucus
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) and Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) launched the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ecuador Caucus. Congresswoman Miller and Congresswoman Sewell serve as co-chairs of the Friends of Ecuador Caucus.
The mission of the Friends of Ecuador Caucus is to advocate for policies that focus and encourage strengthening the bilateral relationship between Ecuador and the United States.
Congresswoman Miller spoke at the celebratory event for the launching of the Friends of Ecuador Caucus. Joining Representatives Miller and Sewell in the caucus are Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Maria Salazar (R-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Lou Correa (D-CA), and Linda Sanchez (D-CA).
"I am honored to be a co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ecuador Caucus," said Congresswoman Miller. "For many years, Ecuador has been a crucial ally to the United States through our shared values in promoting trade and democracy. The Friends of Ecuador Caucus will work on policies that strengthen and improve the partnership between the two countries through trade and economic development. It is critical we continue to support and recognize the importance of U.S. - Ecuador relations. Thank you to my co-chair Rep. Sewell, along with Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks for their unwavering support of Ecuador."
“I am thrilled to be launching and co-chairing the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Ecuador Caucus with my colleague Rep. Carol Miller," said Congresswoman Sewell. "Ecuador is a great ally of the United States and a critical trading partner with a shared focus on the importance of democracy and economic development. I look forward to working with my colleagues to further strengthen the relationship between our two nations."
“Ecuador is a strong ally of the United States. We share many commonalities, but most importantly, we share interests and values,” said Ecuadorian Ambassador Ivonne A-Baki. “I am very glad that the bilateral relation continues to strengthen with the creation of the bipartisan Friends of Ecuador Caucus. I want to express my gratitude to the Caucus co-chairs, Representatives Carol Miller and Terri Sewell for their leadership and support and to the Members of the Caucus who continue to advocate for a stronger bilateral relation. I strongly believe this Caucus will be a successful forum to advance policies and legislation that further bring our two countries together.”
“Ecuador is one of the U.S.’s most critical partners in Latin America and I am pleased to join Congress’s first ever caucus aimed at deepening this important relationship," said Chairman McCaul. "From combating the malign influence of foreign adversaries to promoting regional stability, Ecuador has increasingly been a steadfast and reliable counterpart. The U.S. must deepen cooperation with our regional partner and this caucus will serve as a key forum to lead Congressional efforts."
Background:
- Ecuador has been an ally to the United States for many years with a shared focus on democracy, trade relations, and social policies.
- Since 2021 bilateral trade has grown from $5.1 million to $7.4 million in 2022, with a growing rate of 44% year-on-year. Import of U.S. products in Ecuador has grown by 56% per year.
- As of December 2022, the U.S. - Ecuador Partnership Act of 2022 became law which governs economic and trade relations, encourages economic development, fights negative foreign influence and corruption, and strengthens democracy focused governance.
- This month, the United States and Ecuador agreed to their first bilateral Defense Working Group that will focus on bilateral defense cooperation between countries.
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